Fall 2021
6 Hewitt: then and now 11 StoryWalk now at Hewitt Public Library 24 Keep it local and benefit our community ®
IN EVERY ISSUE Calendar of Events | New Member Spotlights | Hewitt Happenings
WE PICK UP We have a 25 mile pick up radius from Downtown Waco and can pick up during our hours.** Mon-Fri: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Sun: Closed
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Calendar of Events 7
—OSCAR WILDE
OCTOBER
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And all at once, Summer collapsed into Fall.
NOVEMBER, cont.
Business Luncheon and Networking with guest speaker Scott Carley, The Energizer Diamondbacks, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
13 GHC Board Meeting | 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Hewitt Public Safety Facility
10 GHC Board Meeting | 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Hewitt Public Safety Facility 11
Living Springs Village Memory Care Business After Hours | 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Date TBA - Technology in Business & Social Media Breakfast Workshop | 8:00 to 9:30 a.m.
15 Coffee with the GHC President | 8:30 a.m. Common Grounds in Woodway 19 Business After Hours sponsored by Visiting Angels | Baylor Club Presidential Suite 1001 S. MLK Blvd. in Waco | 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. 22 GHC Board of Directors Strategic Planning Top Golf | 2301 Creekview Drive | 10:00 am 27 American Bank Business After Hours 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. | 5901 Woodway Drive 28 Spooktacular Halloween Bash presented by Incommons Bank | Warren Park | 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Date TBA - Business Networking and Education Luncheon | 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
DECEMBER Scholarship applications now available! 8
Annual Volunteer Christmas & Rewards Party The Barn in Hewitt | 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
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Brian Black Farmers Insurance Business After Hours 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. | 1201 Hewitt Dr., Ste. 106-A.
Date TBA - Quarterly Shredding Event | POINTWEST Bank | 420 N Hewitt Drive | 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
NOVEMBER Don’t forget to celebrate and support small businesses!
Date TBA - “Holidays in Hewitt” | Details coming soon!
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For current details on events, visit HewittChamber.com
Sip N Shop hosted by Greater Hewitt Chamber & Female Executives of Waco Chapter The Pavilion | 1 Pavilion Way | Woodway 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Calendar sponsored by
It’s Time to Lower Your Payments AUTO REFINANCE HOME
hewittchamber.com
To advertise in the Hewitt Express, or for more information, call 254.666.1200. Issues are published in January, April, July and October. Greater Hewitt Chamber Executive Director | Alissa Cady | alissa@hewittchamber.com Communications Coordinator | Kacie Birkes | kacie@hewittchamber.com Social Media & Membership Coordinator | Austin Early | austin@hewittchamber.com
HewittChamber.com Hewitt Chamber Express | 3
©2021 Greater Hewitt Chamber of Commerce • Mention of commercial products, processes, or services in the Hewitt Express cannot be construed as an endorsement by the Greater Hewitt Chamber of Commerce • Design Kim Giles, ByDesignWaco.com
4 | Hewitt Chamber Express Fall 2021
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Hewitt: then and now CHARLIE TURNER • MAYOR, CITY OF HEWITT
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hen you view the two pictures of Hewitt (below), taken in 1928 and again in 2021, the 93-year difference transforms from a rural community to a bustling city. The 1928 picture (taken from an airplane) depicts a rural community that was not much more than farm land. Major buildings at that time were the school, a construction company, a lumber yard, several churches, a small store and a few houses. The community was favored with a railroad depot and trains that would carry passengers and goods to Waco and points beyond. Life was depicted as a laid back rural pace, with time for visiting with friends and neighbors. The 1928 picture also highlights the school as a focal part of daily community life. As you may see, there seems to be two pathways that exit from the school to two small buildings—which were the “privies” (restrooms)...one for boys and one for girls. You’ll also notice a house on the far left-hand side of the picture that still stands today, occupied by a family. The structure adjacent from the school that appears to be a white house is in fact the location of First Baptist Church. The large white building located between the school and the house on the far left is one of only two still standing historical buildings present in Hewitt today. There are several additional structures—one of which appears to be a small covered structure that was used as a tabernacle for the church. It was reported that one particular school day, several boys at recess took a bicycle and rode it off the top ridge of the structure, down the roof and onto the ground without crashing. As they were successful at this game, the game was repeated over and over until their teacher came outside to put a stop to it. If you look across the horizson of the picture, you will notice there were not very many trees in Hewitt
in 1928. Although there were homes and farmland, the community tried to make the area like a small town. The second picture taken in 2021 from a drone reveals the many changes that have taken place during the past 93 years. The small building of First Baptist Church is now a large brick structure with a campus of several different buildings. The historic old building still stands on the original site at First and Wall Street, supporting trees and upgraded improvements without changing the appearance of the original design. The original home that was located to the left of the historic building is now surrounded by trees, leaving only a visible top crest ridge of the roof. The school building is no longer present in the picture, demolished circa 1983, and now features Vietnamese Baptist Church. In the 2021 picture, there are backyards with fencing— no longer agricultural farm land to raise crops. You’ll see new features as depicted by the two water towers and swimming pools. Across from the church, the original old family home that was donated to the church has been demolished for extra parking spaces. The original headstone for the school has been mounted in a brick frame and placed at the corner of First and Wall Streets, in front of duplexes marking the Hewitt High School on the front and 1921 on the back side. Today, our pace of living is much faster with limited time for friends and neighbors, but the community of Hewitt has now become the City of Hewitt moving into the 21st century. As with most Texas cities’ population, Hewitt has earned its place in McLennan County as its second largest city. One only has to view the two pictures to see the great contrast between Hewitt then and now.
Drone picture courtesy of Bradley Turner. Original 1928 picture courtesy of B.J. Smith.
1928 6 | Hewitt Chamber Express Fall 2021
2021
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StoryWalk® now at Hewitt Public Library WAYNETTE DITTO, DIRECTOR, HEWITT PUBLIC LIBRARY
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s libraries and librarians continue to struggle with setbacks and obstacles related to the pandemic, one of the most significant challenges has been finding ways to engage with the community’s youngest learners to ensure that they have access and encouragement to develop life-long literacy skills. We have turned to YouTube, Facebook Live, and other services to create virtual programming; however, libraries across the country (and around the world) are bringing story-time outside in a safe, fun way for the whole family while encouraging a healthy lifestyle through StoryWalks®. First created in 2007 by Anne Ferguson, StoryWalks® is set up in a public community space and along a path. StoryWalks® have been installed in all 50 states and 13 other countries around the world, including: Germany, Canada, England, Bermuda, Russia, Malaysia, Pakistan and South Korea. At the beginning of the path is an indicator of the starting point, along with the cover of the picture book used for the StoryWalks®, usually accompanied with information about the library, sponsors, and how to proceed. At a designated distance, walkers will find a page or two of the book to read before proceeding on to the next posting—a pattern that is repeated until the book is complete. StoryWalks® may contain book pages, but some include activities, information, or critical-thinking questions posted with the story pages. Reading aloud just 20 minutes a day to babies, toddlers and preschoolers exposes them to 1.8 million words each year and helps build strong literacy and language skills. Early literacy skills develop most effectively in real-life
settings through positive interactions with literacy materials, and other people. Too many children aren’t exposed to consistent interactions that foster language development. Participating with a parent or caregiver gives children the opportunity to learn new words, describe things and events, tell stories, learn how to follow a sequence, and hear and play with sounds and letters in words. No matter the form the, StoryWalks® is a fun way to connect with the community, encourage reading and becoming active together as a family. It also shows the world that the library is not limited to just four walls. Our StoryWalks® has been placed in the HPL Butterfly Garden. First Baptist Church Woodway helped us by constructing the wooden platforms. HPL Library Manager Simon Dulock spearheaded the project. The first story is about the Monarch butterfly. As readers progress to each stand, they will learn about how a Monarch butterfly migrates to Texas, and how important it is to our ecosystem. This project has been on my bucket list for several years, and I am excited that we can do this for our community! If it is well received, we could take it to our local parks. This project will also provide our citizens with volunteer opportunities in coming months. I invite you to drop by the library and learn about other opportunities we provide. Visit us online to view our calendar of events. Either way, we would be happy for you to visit!
HewittChamber.com Hewitt Chamber Express | 11
We’re here to help you make it
home. home
Our Chapel Road Lending Team
Carol Pilant
It doesn’t matter if it’s a new home purchase, home construction or an improvement project, the lending team at Community Bank & Trust can help you with a loan that matches your vision. Whether you’re working with a builder to construct your dream home or purchasing an existing home, the way we start the loan process is the same as it’s been for almost 70 years. We still get to know each customer personally—exactly what you’d expect from the oldest locally owned independent bank in Waco. Call us today at 254.753.1521 or apply online at cbtwaco.bank by clicking the LoanLink button.
Member FDIC
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778 Sun Valley Blvd. Hewitt, TX (254) 732-9823
Convenient loca�on. Comfortable rooms. First-class ameni�es. Minutes away from Baylor University, McLane Stadium, Fixer Upper’s® Magnolia Market at the Silos, the Dr Pepper Museum and Cameron Park Zoo. Conveniently located just off I-35 between Aus�n and Dallas. Stay at Ramada in Hewi�, and experience Southern hospitality at its finest.
12 | Hewitt Chamber Express Fall 2021
TEMPORARY &DIRECT HIRE.
In order to ensure the perfect work placement, our personnel service does our best to match specific types of jobs with employees who have the desired skill set. We have job counselors on site who are consistently interviewing candidates, which allows us to choose from a large employee base. We can be your temporary staffing company as well as your source for permanent and as-needed positions.
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717 Jewell Dr. Waco, Texas 76712 (off Imperial and Jewell Drive) Express HewittChamber.com Hewitt Chamber
| 13
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Looking for a unique venue for your next event? Reserve Hewitt’s Creekside Amphitheater!
L
ooking for a unique location to host your next concert, performance or event? Check out the Creekside Amphitheater in Warren Park, located at 450 South Old Temple Road in Hewitt. The surrounding park offers 36 acres of land with mature trees, plenty of open green space and a nearby pavilion. Castleman Creek creates a beautiful backdrop to the Amphitheater and serves as the northern border of Warren Park. The unique architecture of this facility compliments the surrounding natural area, and makes an impressive statement to park visitors. Creekside Amphitheater is able to host a variety of mid-sized events, but is charming enough to accommodate more small and private gatherings. Seating is comprised of 42 stone benches to comfortably seat 120+ guests. A large concrete apron in front of the stage allows for placement of chairs or other seating during smaller events. In addition, there are four electric and water hook-ups for food trucks and/or other vendors. We would love to help you plan your next event at this beautiful and very special location. For more information, contact Linda Fish at (254) 296-5698.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING US WACO’S #1 VET Serving our community since 1983.
We treat your pets like the treasured family members they are.
Call us today! Appointments preferred. Drop-offs welcome.
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HewittChamber.com Hewitt Chamber Express | 15
Go make some memories. We’ve got the financial services you want and need to keep your life moving.
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16 | Hewitt Chamber Express Fall 2021
www.gencofcu.org | Insured By NCUA | 254.776.9550
HewittChamber.com Hewitt Chamber Express | 17
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Get to know your MISD teachers AMY WEST • WOODGATE INTERMEDIATE Amy is a 6th grade math teacher at Woodgate Intermediate. She has been an educator for six years, now in her third year at Midway. She graduated from Baylor University in 2016. In her spare time, Amy loves to hike, work out, cook new recipes, and spend time with her dogs, family and friends. One of her favorite things about teaching math is seeing kids recognize the math that exists all around them in the world, and watching them learn to apply what they learn in the classroom to their experiences at the store, in the car, at practice and beyond.”
KRYSTLE MOOS • MIDWAY HIGH Krystle is an AP and Honors Chemistry teacher in her 9th year with Midway ISD. She has been a teacher for 14 years. Her favorite chemistry project with students is tie-dye Tshirt-making on AP Chemistry exam day. Students not only make a cool Tshirt, they also learn about the chemistry behind why different colors attach to fibers, and why some colors fade faster than others. Krystle’s hobbies inlclude traveling with her family—husband Scott and their three children, Aidan, Kiera and Sophie.
SARAH BARRY • MIDWAY HIGH
Sarah Barry is currently teachers 10th Honors and Academic English II at Midway High School. She has been teaching in Midway for 13 years and has loved every second of it! Along with teaching, Sarah is the Risk Management and Operation Advisor & Advisory Board Member for the Baylor Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family, and cheering on her alma mater, Oklahoma State. Her favorite teaching moment is watching former students walk across the stage at graduation and enter a new phase in their life. “Knowing that I was able to be in their lives for a small moment, is a gift that I do not take for granted,” she said. Continued on page 20... HewittChamber.com Hewitt Chamber Express | 19
Get to know your MISD teachers, cont. KELLY CAPRON • SPRING VALLEY ELEMENTARY
Kelly has enjoyed 13 years in education, and has taught fourth grade for Midway ISD for the past five years. She lives in Hewitt with her husband, Jon and her three children, Caleb, Abby, and Luke, who all attend Midway schools. From a young age, Kelly developed a heart for different cultures, and she is privileged to work with English Language learners at Spring Valley. She is also passionate about teaching math in a concrete and relatable way. One saying that students hear frequently in her class is that math is “figure-out-able”. Each day, Kelly’s students learn to set goals, to work hard, and to celebrate their successes.
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20 | Hewitt Chamber Express Fall 2021
Keep it local and benefit our community AUSTIN EARLY • SOCIAL MEDIA AND MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR, GHC
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he holiday season is upon us. Yes, it’s that time of year. It’s time to pull out your decorations, snap a picture for the holiday card, and start finding a gift for every single one of your friends and family—from your favorite aunt to your best friend’s son. How are you supposed to find a unique gift for everyone on your list and avoid jumping on Amazon or heading down the gift card aisle? Try shopping local. Really. Hewitt is already a bustling business community, with new stores and shops opening every week. Our small town has grown into a self-sustaining city capable of providing something for everyone on your list, with the personal touch that makes every good present special. You can find nearly any gift you need within minutes of your home. Don’t believe us? Our area is brimming with cute boutiques and stores full of unique Texas jewelry and home décor. Just stop by any shopping center along Hewitt Drive or Woodway Drive. Instead of grabbing a gift card to a generic restaurant
chain, treat your friends or relatives to a meal at your favorite local spot. For the handyman in the family, stop by one of our local hardware stores and let an associate point you in the right direction. Or if your man isn’t so handy, call one of our many service or repair organizations to take care of that project he’s been meaning to get around to. Have a friend with young children? Book them a session with one of our many area photographers and give them a moment they won’t forget! Or, if you are still having trouble pinpointing just the right idea, give local businesses a call. One of the greatest benefits to shopping local is interacting with a personable individual who has a vested interest in providing a great product and experience, even if it is a little outside the box. When you spend your valuable money here, the value stays here. So shop local this holiday season, for Hewitt.
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Hewitt Happenings
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Special thanks to Raising Cane’s on Hewitt Drive for sponsoring Greater Hewitt Chamber’s 2020 ribbon-cutting ceremonies.
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1 (GHC) celebrates GelU’s grand opening in Robinson with a Ribbon Cutting on August 25 2 GHC members enjoy pasta by Di Campli’s as Ian Dawson with SMI-LMI presents at the monthly luncheon 3 GHC celebrates Photography By Cecy’s studio grand opening in Waco with a Ribbon Cutting on July 23 4 GHC celebrates Elite Barbershop in Hewitt with a Ribbon Cutting on July 21 5 GHC celebrates with a Ribbon Cutting at LimeLily 6 GHC celebrates Jared Tseng Photography in Hewitt with a Ribbon Cutting on August 3 7 GHC celebrates Maynard CPA in Waco with a Ribbon Cutting on August 11 8 GHC members enjoy lunch catered by Mexicano Grille at Bare Arms Brewing with Ken Noble of Noble Leadership Solutions at June’s monthly luncheon 9 GHC celebrates Placements Unlimited and Computers N’ Stuff’s grand opening in Waco with a Ribbon Cutting on August 26 10 GHC member ActionCOACH owner Ragan Patterson visits with Signature luncheon and Olympian Johnny Quinn at George’s Banquet Hall on July 29 11 GHC celebrates Impact Research Institute in Waco with a Ribbon Cutting on July 28 12 GHC celebrates Interim Healthcare in Woodway with a Ribbon Cutting on July 27 13 GHC celebrates The Skyn Spa in Waco with a Ribbon Cutting on July 2 14 GHC celebrates Turning Pointe Photography in Hewitt with a Ribbon Cutting on Sept. 1
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24 | Hewitt Chamber Express Fall 2021
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HewittChamber.com Hewitt Chamber Express | 25
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26 | Hewitt Chamber Express Fall 2021
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PRSRT STD U.S. Postage
PAID Permit #65 Hewitt TX
P.O. Box 661 Hewitt, Texas 76643
28 | Hewitt Chamber Express Fall 2020